[MLS TRANSACTIONS] Juan Agudelo's much-anticipated move out of New York has finally happened as the 19-year-old striker
has been traded to Chivas USA in exchange for defender Heath Pearce, allocation money and future considerations. Red Bulls General Manager Erik Soler insisted the deal was at Agudelo's request.

“It had become clear that he thought that his chance to develop as a player would maybe get
better chances if he played somewhere else," Soler said. "We still don’t think that’s the case, but sometimes when you work in this sport you have to put on larger glasses.“

“We want to support Juan but he wants to try something new and we’ll give him that opportunity. We had numerous people calling us from the league about Juan, and we had turned
everybody down for a long time. But in the end, when it became clear that he really wanted to try something else, and Hans and I discussed it, we don’t want to be anywhere close to giving him
less opportunity than what he wants himself.“

Agudelo will be available this weekend as Chivas USA takes on the Los Angeles Galaxy in the first game of the SuperClasico on Saturday
at the Home Depot Center (TV: ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, 10:30 pm ET).

Agudelo, 19, is in his third professional season. He appeared in 33 matches including 13 as a starter, scoring six goals
with the Red Bulls. But he was increasingly unhappy, Soler said, with his limited role with the Red Bulls.

Last year, Luke Rodgers was preferred to
Agudelo as French star Thierry Henry's partner up front.

This season, Kenny Cooper has nine goals, tying
him with Henry for the team lead.

“We have a pair of strikers that are working fantastic at the moment,” Soler said. “To be a backup player is not good enough for
Juan and we understand that.”

The Red Bulls, who can use help on defense, acquire one of MLS's top defenders -- and one its most versatile -- in Pearce.

Once again, Red Bulls continue the sorry tradition of the Metros and dump another young and promising talent. They may be riding high at the moment but we will probably discover it is another false dawn when the rubber meets the road later on. They should put a sign up at Red Bull Arena, "Young Talent Need Not Apply."

Amos Annan

commented on: May 20, 2012 at 3:54 p.m.

Sorry, but Juan Agudelo is way over rated.
Believe he will only be an average MLS forward and not stay at the National team level, because he does not score enough and not creative enough.

Luis Arreola

commented on: May 21, 2012 at 9:23 a.m.

Klins seems to think he is a top player that should start anywhere. Shows what a huge difference of appreciation of talent between a great international coach and some of our MLS coaches.